A few people who are regular readers have observed that sometimes, my otherwise accurate observations about people at the top of the media food chain are sometimes a bit too negative. Because, particularly in the situation I find myself in, it’s, in their opinion, counterproductive to be pointing out something they’re doing that might be … Read more
Today seems to be the opening of two distinct seasons besides autumn. Both the Hallmark Channel and its new arch-rival Great American Family are beginning their two month-plus maartahons of virtually non-stop Christmas programming, and like ir or not earlier this morning on my pre-dawn walk I saw the same home that waited until mid-June … Read more
When it was reported yesterday that Hearst Television president Jordan Wertlieb boldly predicted that network television in the 10 PM hour would cease to exist by next fall, I could only think — “he must have grown up like I did, watching something other than that more nights than not”. In my house, we were … Read more
Before anyone accuses me of being overly negative yet again, let me reinforce: I LIKE The Drew Barrymore Show. I was ecstatic when CBS Media Ventures actually went ahead and launched the show on schedule in the height of the earlier days of the pandemic in September 2020, one of the few newly produced programs … Read more
If you’re of a certain age, you probably have never heard of DRAGNET–at best, you might have seen the theatrical spoof that helped propel Tom Hanks’ career that’s now 35 years old. But waaay back in TV and radio history, the phrase that adorns the top of today’s entry was right up there with “you … Read more
About a month ago, I had the chance to be an invited guest on an honest-to-goodness podcast with actual audience and traction. I know I’ve got a lot of smart and worthwhile things to say about what I’ve done and what others are doing, and I know if you’re reading this you’re part of my … Read more
I’m sure George Lopez has some very redeeming qualities. Sandra Bullock, known as one of the sweetest and most accessible “big name” stars around, saw enough in his potential to build a sitcom around his stand-up act with him as it’s lead. She and Warner Brothers took full advantage of a struggling and castigated ABC … Read more
It hssn’t been all that newsworthy a fall for Netflix. While their chief competitors dominate both zeitgeist and news cycles with battles for major sports packages and large chunks of video consumption with nine-figure multipart series based on epic mythological IP with large global fan bases, they have been laying off hundreds of excess employees … Read more
While I don’t like admitting it, occasionally a milestone occurs that will give away my actual age. Today’s one such example. Exactly fifty years ago today I put on a tight polyester suit and stood before a Torah in the Jewish Center of Kew Gardens Hills and was Bar Mitzvahed. I don’t remember too many … Read more
When Andy Cohen was first beginning to make his mark on Bravo as executive, on-air talent and exuberant fan, he correctly surmised that when something clicked, one would be wise to seize the zeitgeist moment and find a way to extend a hit show’s order with additional episodes. The beauty of reality television is that … Read more